In a majority of northern North America, there have been no earthworms since the last ice age occurred. Now because of humans, invasive earthworms are colonizing and thriving in new areas. A new study released found that in areas of a forest with more invasive earthworms, there are fewer insects.
The study’s author explained that with climate change, land use change and pesticides, earthworms could be a potential trigger in a widespread decline of insects. Invasive earthworms have already been linked to changes in soil organisms, plant communities and forests’ ability to store carbon.
Team lead of the study Malte Jochum said “The scale of it is huge and will probably expand with climate change, … It seems that people living in North America don’t know that earthworms don’t belong there … and I think it’s always important to remind people of that … The system has reorganized itself without [earthworms],” he said. “And when they show up, the system gets reorganized again.”.”
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